TEARS AT CHRISTMAS

The Christmas story is not a sanitized account of life. Not some sentimental jollity of jingle bells, Xmas trees, lights, parades, and Santa Claus’s reindeers supposedly to remember Christ’s birth. Besides “peace on earth and goodwill towards men” (Luke 2), there’s also “lamentation, weeping, and great mourning” because of envy, secret plotting, and massacre of the innocent to advance personal and political ambitions (Matthew 2:1-18). As at that first Advent, our world today is also full of tears at Christmas time. These tears can’t be wiped away by simply going for shopping, dining, or watching sentimental Xmas movies.  Those for whom “Merry Xmas” has become “Teary Xmas” shouldn’t despair. For, He whose Childhood and life were marked by many tears identifies with all our sorrows and griefs. He’ll come again to end all tears.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim